The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-11-12
River Reservoirs for tho Ouachita River

To the Editor of The Times Democrat
The Introductory paragraph of a very in
structive editorial in your issue Of the 3lst
ultimo reads as follows:
Every cent of money that the Federal
government has expended on the improve
Inent OF the Mississippi has been returned
to the people dozen times over. At the
extreme other end Of the river plan has
been tried of improving navigation by
means of reservoirs, which, after the ex-
perience of number of years, is pronounce
ep grand success.
Following your last statement, you adj
duce this astonishing statistical proof:
In 1880 Congress passed a bill haying in
view the creation OF four large reservoirs,
wherein the water could be secured during
the food season, and which could be called
on for supply when the river was low.
These four reservoirs thus creuted contain
81, 900, Co., 900 cubic feet of water. Three Of
them were completed in 1885, and as the
VIPER river was very . low That shey
the Mississippi navigable for seventy days,
during which it would otherwise have been
impossible for boats. In 1886 the river was
used again. and tor 20 days the water from
them kept tho river up to its normal height,
which was much better than expected, as
the reservoirs were not intended to furnish
water moro than ninety days.
The purpose of calling attention to these
the facts recorded, which can be strength
ened by others, no doubt, to the hydro
graphy and condition of one of Louisiana's
and Arkansas most Important rivers, the
Ouachita, to-wit:
Beginning at the confluence OF that river
and tho Bartholomew there is an overflow
| area extending up the Ouachita, by the
| course of the river, some eighty miles or
| moro. 1t extends, on either side Of tho
river. as the write or was informed by steam
| boatmen in 1880 when making trip up to
Camden, distance of from oight miles at
| the narrowest point to twenty-five miles,
| its maximum width. This immense and
| natul al reservoir is submerged at high wa
ter, in its entirety, the greatest depth being
but little short of thirty feet. The average
depth, there can be but little doubt, would
] reach fifteen feet for the entire area.
| Natures economical use of her forces aud
| wise suggestions to man were never more
| apparent than in the con formation of this
baslu; for, at the point of beginning mon
| toned, where Ouachita City is situated, OH
the west bank, she has brought, and annu-
ally brings all this apparent waste of water
| into one channel, with the high hills on
the west 81 70 and banks above overflow on
| the east. Here the accumulated overflows
of the Little Missouri, the upper Ouachita
proper, the Saline and the Bartholomew
are forced to find their gradual exit toward
the Mississippi or Atchafalaya. and finally
to the Gulf. This fact accounts for what
has doubtless seemed strange to many
that the Ouachita is always navigable tc
ouachita City until July, and sometime.
until August.
The river at the point just indicated Il
but little above go yards in width, will
good banks on either side.
What would be the cost OF constructing
dam at Olachita City, so that the overflow
, ed water above might be held and release
at will the writer is not competent TO say